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Kisii Stone Beautifies Homes Worldwide, But Miners Starve
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- Published on Monday, 16 July 2007 22:45
A recent visit by Cooperatives Development minister Peter Ndwiga to the soapstone mining area of Gucha District gave the carvers some hope, for they have complained for decades, that their vocation yields more sweat than income. Yet their products grace homes worldwide.
It is only in South Mugirango constituency where the precious stone is mined in the world. So, who benefits?"It's very sad that this very unique stone has not helped local people to get out of biting poverty," said Mr Ndwiga.
Mr Ndwiga pledged that the Government would help the carvers by offsetting their debts standing at more than Sh10 million, then train their cooperative society officials.The middlemen are said to be buying the carvings at a throw-away price, making huge profits in turn.
Following the poor performance of the economy in the early 1990s, their cooperative society, like many others, collapsed. But in 1998, Kisii Soapstone Carvers Cooperative Society was revived, and since then, it has aggressively ventured into the export market.
Sh12 million
In the 1990s, the society made between Sh7 million and Sh12 million annually, and those were the only years shareholders were gaining from their sweat, as far as they remember.The society has developed direct export markets in Holland, the US, Japan, the UK, Canada and Australia.
But they cannot meet deadlines for orders from overseas due to lack of money. Banks are not lending, and they could do with electricity and computers.There is stock in their showroom outside Tabaka Town worth more than Sh2.7 million, while overseas debtors owe the society Sh5.9 million which Mr Ndwiga said the Government would use its missions abroad to recover.
According to society officials, members are prepared to venture into intensive mining, production, diversification and innovative marketing. They also hope to use the remnants from carvings to make pottery, chalk, tiles, cement, and porcelain products.
Kisii stone is a significant brand. According to a report done in 1985 by the department of geology and mines in the ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, there are more than seven million tonnes of the stone in the area.
The deposits are found at Tabaka, Gotichaki, Bosinange and Sameta, all in South Mugirango constituency.
The craftsmen have been in the trade for more than 200 years, but it was only recently, in the past six years, that the stone carving industry became their main source of cash.
The stone is used to make decorative objects, mostly ornaments, book ends, animal and human figurines, toys, building materials, surface finish and chalk.Armed with chisels and hammers, men enter the mines to extract the best stones for carving.
And women, who are often accompanied by their children, scrub the products with sandpaper before they are decorated with a variety of dyes, paints and markings.
The specialists, who use all sorts of chemicals and polishes that include shoe polish, decorate the products before they are displayed for sale.Work at the quarry starts as early as 6am until 5pm. The scorching sun is not a problem, since deep inside the quarries, the temperature is cool.
According to Mr Peter Nyairo, 43, the excavation of soft stones is not easy. "Sometimes you have to dig through a large area before you land on a soft stone. At times, life becomes abruptly short, when heavy soil collapses to bury the people alive," says the miner.
Mr Nyairo says many have died since the colonial period. In the last two years, four people have died at various quarry sites.
He adds: "In a recent case, our colleague is still nursing wounds at Kisii District Hospital after soil fell on him while on duty at one of the quarries."
Mr Nyairo was flanked by his colleagues as he explained why it would be good for the Government to reduce their insurance premium so more people could insure against the risks.
"Some of our colleagues have been rendered immobile, while others are on crutches as a result of the dangers. This work, though legal, is like poaching. You either return alive or dead," he says.
As the interview continues, a sudden shrill rents the air, sending us scampering - except Mr Nyairo. A heavy stone falls next to a miner and he misses the chisel and hits a finger.
"Relax, this is a minor accident. Fatal ones do occur, and we are used to injuries," Mr Nyairo chuckles. The other miners continue digging as others take the injured man aside for first aid.
After few minutes, some women arrive with pots of porridge. It is time for the miners to eat porridge and chapati.
Mr Robert Mochama of Tavima Sculpture Centre picks up the story. He says there are two types of stones for carving, a whitish one and a pink one.
After the stones have been transported to the carving site, specialists take charge and ensure they minimise wastage to maximise profits. Mr Mochama, who reveals that women and children normally do the smoothening and shining work, says the right sandpaper has to be used for the three main stages involved.
For Ms Grace Otondi, who owns one of the quarries, the soapstone business has helped in reducing criminal activities. "We encourage all and sundry to engage in the business. All tribes are here to work for a living, and since this is a natural resource, we do not harbour any tribal grudges."
But the carvers agree that children should not be actively involved until after secondary school.
